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Unhappy events abroad have retaught us two simple truths about the liberty of a democratic people. The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic State itself. That, in its essence, is fascism-ownership of government by an individual, by a group or by any other controlling private power. The second truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if its business system does not provide employment and produce and distribute goods in such a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living. Both lessons hit home. Among us today a concentration of private power without equal in history is growing.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt#13

EconomyFreedomDemocracyPowerEmployment

About this quote

What does it mean?
Democracy fails if private power grows too strong or if business fails to provide jobs.
In plain terms
Democracy needs limits on private power and good jobs.
What can you take from it?
Democracy requires balanced power and economic stability.

Where it applies

  • political analysis
  • policy review
  • civic discussion

Putting it to work

  • regulate private power
  • ensure employment

Questions to consider

  • When does power become too strong?
  • What sustains liberty?

Another view

Defining private power limits can be subjective.

More from Franklin Delano Roosevelt

  1. The Nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.

    Permalink to quote #12
  2. All free peoples are deeply impressed by the courage and steadfastness of the Greek nation.

    Permalink to quote #14
  3. The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.

    Permalink to quote #11

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